I missed out on this again

What you’ll get out of this in a few minutes:

• Trump's tariff flip-flops have markets whiplashing while Lens Chain's massive migration marks SocialFi's big moment.

• Stablecoins quietly hit $150 billion in market cap with Visa-level volumes, as Sling Money secures regulatory licenses and our portfolio companies solve real business problems.

• Meanwhile, I'm trying to explain crypto to my confused family in Frankfurt while planning Berlin Blockchain Week that's just two months away!

If you’ve been around the crypto space for a while, you probably remember that one day in January - when the SEC’s official X account suddenly announced the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs… only to walk it back shortly after.

Or the infamous intern slip-up at Cointelegraph back in October 2023? Yeah, vibes.

That’s kind of what the current talk around Trump and tariffs feels like right now.

Just weeks ago, our favorite crypto president was flexing a “tariffs” sign, tanking markets, and even suggesting it might be a good time to buy (should've listened to Donald; I feel like I missed out on this… again). Now he’s suddenly hit pause on the whole thing - causing prices to surge (again!!).

Meanwhile, my mood is basically this:

And while I’m still deep in the trenches working on some major announcements within the w3 ecosystem, I couldn’t resist dropping a few of my current insights and weekly learnings into your inbox as well. As with every week, I got you cc’d.

The team behind Aave (yes, that DeFi lending protocol) just launched their own blockchain dedicated to social media called Lens Chain. This is a pretty big deal in the world of "SocialFi" - which is exactly what it sounds like: social media + finance.

But what exactly is Lens Protocol? Think of it as Instagram if you actually owned your profile, followers, and content. Everything you post becomes an NFT that you control, and no one can take away your audience or monetization tools because they're literally yours on the blockchain.

The migration involved moving a whopping 125GB of on-chain data including over 12 million posts from Polygon (where Lens started in 2022) to this new dedicated chain. It's one of the largest blockchain data migrations ever.

Explain it to me like I’m 12

Traditional social platforms like Instagram, X, and Facebook essentially "rent" you an audience. They can change algorithms, ban accounts, or shut down entirely - taking your digital identity with them.

Decentralized social media flips this model:

• Your profile is an NFT you own

• Your content belongs to you (not the platform)

• Your connections and followers can't be taken away

• You can monetize directly without a platform taking massive cuts

The SocialFi landscape

Lens isn't alone in this space. We've seen several attempts at decentralized social media:

• Mastodon: Open-source Twitter alternative that's decentralized but not blockchain-based

• Farcaster: Ethereum-compatible social protocol gaining traction with crypto natives

• Bluesky: Jack Dorsey's decentralized social network using the AT Protocol

• Friend.tech: Token-gated social platform enabling creators to monetize access

The early pitch of "Twitter but decentralized" didn't quite catch on. Now platforms like Lens are focusing on creating user experiences that are only possible through crypto, rather than just copying existing platforms with blockchain underneath.

What this actually means

That nerdy tweet about Lens Chain launching is actually pretty significant. In plain English:

1. Users now own their social data and relationships - not platforms

2. A dedicated chain makes interactions (likes, follows) much cheaper

3. 50+ apps are already built on Lens, creating a diverse ecosystem

4. The infrastructure can now handle millions of daily social interactions

For developers, this means ready-made tools to build social apps. For users, it means more control and new monetization options.

The big question: can they create experiences compelling enough that people will embrace the blockchain part? Or will this remain a crypto curiosity?

I am currently visiting my friends and family in Frankfurt. And every time they ask me what's going on at work (or what I actually do), I'm met with many confused faces. As co-founder of w3.group, I've worn many hats. The funniest part, though, is when Quinn includes me in his campaign planning and writes the script for it.

Berlin Blockchain Week starts in less than 2 months. In the coming weeks, we'll finally be sharing more info about events and partners.

If you want to know what's happening before everyone else, you should subscribe to the BBW Calendar.

And if you're getting FOMO and want to include your Web3 (or Web2!!) company in what's probably the most important event in Berlin, fear no more. Everyone is welcome. Take a few seconds and let us know how we can include you.

My co-founder Henrik shared some thoughts on LinkedIn this week about the quiet revolution happening in finance. While Bitcoin grabs headlines, stablecoins have silently grown to a $150 billion market cap with transaction volumes rivaling Visa.

Stablecoins combine the stability of traditional currencies with blockchain's speed and programmability. What's fascinating is how they're solving real problems:

• Protection against local currency inflation

• Instant global payments for freelancers

• Financial access for the unbanked

Real-world impact

Sling Money just secured their official MiCA license this week - a major step toward legitimizing stablecoins in traditional finance. They're building payment infrastructure to make cross-border transactions faster and cheaper.

Henrik also mentioned our portfolio company Mento Labs, which has integrated with Opera's Mini Pay to bring stablecoins to millions who don't even realize they're using blockchain.

M&A heats up

We're seeing consolidation in the consumer crypto space as companies race to build "super apps" combining trading, payments, and financial services. This suggests we're entering a new phase - moving from experimental technology to mainstream financial infrastructure.

The most exciting part isn't the stablecoins themselves, but what they enable: programmable money, micropayments, and frictionless global commerce.

• They're offering more flexible fundraising options through blockchain technology.

• Their platform uses smart contracts to automate much of the funding process.

• Their Tokenized Investment Contracts (TiCs) provide a novel approach to startup investment.

Since we're already highlighting our portfolio companies, check out this real-world blockchain use case: Lufthansa Group and Chain4Travel recently hosted a hackathon where developers built travel solutions on the Camino Network.

This is blockchain solving actual business problems - not just crypto speculation.

• T-2 weeks until the first-ever AI Hackathon at w3.hub (Sign Up!)

• Zeneca drops an airdrop guide

• Animoca Brands partners with Soneium to build Moca Network’s identity layer

• PayPal expands cryptocurrency offerings with new tokens

• A deep dive into onchain reputation

That’s it.

See you next week 💅🏽

And while we're at it:

I'm on LinkedIn.

I'm on X.

Always here at w3.hub.

Active in the w3.group. Follow on LinkedIn to keep up with our projects.